Short-lived loot might lead to long sentence

Two novice crooks in Kampong Cham’s Prey Chhor district had only a mere day to enjoy their stolen spoils before being caught and cuffed by local cops. On Thursday morning, the alleged amateur thieves snuck upon a rice farmer at work in the fields and made off with his unattended moto. The vexed victim cried foul to the police, who spent no time in locating the bike-snatchers and their booty. The pair, aged 20 and 31, said they were first-timers when it came to felony but were nonetheless ferried off to court. Kampuchea Thmey

Reckless driver kills pedestrian, flees scene

A 26-year-old fisherman was killed by a speeding car on Saturday as he walked home in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district. When the man’s companions crossed the road and into the path of a careening car, the unfortunate victim, who was a few paces behind the group, suffered severe injuries and died in hospital. The dastardly driver fled the scene. His car, however, was taken into police custody. Nokor wat

Wire thieves caught, sent on down the line

Two alleged wire thieves found out just how tangled their criminal web was when they were tripped up by police on Friday. Patrolling Battambang officers spotted the pair, and one other man, snipping electrical wire in the wee hours of Friday morning. The third man managed to scram, but his partners in crime were nabbed with more than 10 kilograms of wire. A search of the homes uncovered another 30 kilos of cozened coils. The pair was sent to court. Nokorwat

Partiers grab belts, beat pants off of rivals

An innocent knees-up at a pagoda became the scene of a vicious belting. The pagoda party, in Kampong Thom’s Sandan district last Wednesday, was under way when an argument broke out between two sets of guests. Unable to quell their quarrel, two of the chafed chums returned with belts and cleavers and fell upon their foes. Police were called to the shambolic shindig and arrested the petulant party poopers. Deum Ampil

Dyke dispute devolves into hasty hoe-hacking

A riled rice farmer went on the run last Wednesday after allegedly attacking a fellow farmer. The suspect, 34, from Kampong Speu’s Thporng district, coyly cut into the field dyke of his 42-year-old female neighbour, letting the water run into his own paddy. The nettled neighbour lambasted the labourer, who in turn whacked her in the head with his hoe. The unfortunate woman was sent to Phnom Penh in serious condition, while her attacker went on the run. Police say they know the identity of the man. Nokor wat

Translated by Phak Seangly